Six coaches and the locomotive of the Kolkata-Sairang Express derailed near Digaru railway station on the outskirts of Guwahati in Assam on Wednesday morning, November 11, leaving several passengers reportedly injured. The incident occurred at around 6:54 am in Kamrup Metropolitan district.
The train was travelling from Kolkata’s Chitpur station towards Sairang in Mizoram when the derailment took place. According to the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), the locomotive and five passenger coaches went off the tracks while the train was being received at Digaru station to give precedence to another train.
NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said the loco pilot could not control the train’s speed, resulting in the derailment. Railway authorities initially stated that all passengers were safe and no injuries had been reported. However, eyewitness accounts and subsequent reports indicated that some passengers had sustained injuries.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said four passengers suffered minor injuries and were receiving medical attention. He added that the state government was coordinating with the Railway Ministry to manage the situation and ensure assistance for affected passengers.
Following the accident, relief and rescue operations were launched immediately. A recovery train was dispatched to the location, while senior railway officials, including Northeast Frontier Railway General Manager Vivek Khare, reached the site to oversee the response.
Passengers stranded following the derailment were provided with basic necessities and arrangements were made to transport them to their destinations through an alternative train.
The incident also affected railway operations in the region, with some trains being regulated at nearby stations. Railway authorities are working to clear the affected tracks and restore normal services.
The exact circumstances surrounding the derailment are yet to be fully established. The incident has once again raised concerns about railway safety and the importance of effective speed control and operational measures to prevent such accidents.
